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+---- Thread: [RFC][SI][Multi-Xover]Being You is Suffering (/showthread.php?tid=8440)
- classicdrogn - 03-17-2014
Oh dear, here comes the puppy eyes, and such a dire prognosis you may even face the horrors of the pouty lip. I like Washu's explanation here, and how it basically boils down to "When I do a job, I do it right." If she was in a better mood, she might have just said that directly, and tacked on something like "I even accounted for your boneheaded stubbornness and the probability of getting injured while doing things the hard way, because I'm the greatest genius in the universe!"
I can see Deadpan29's point - I kind of shrugged the issue off as a product of the SI subgenre, but that aspect really would be better served if there was a few months of elapsed time rather than a few weeks. I understand that you have places you want to get to witht he story rather than doing the set-up, though.
Don't worry overmuch about my enthusiasm for the Macross material - you'll get there when you get there, and if not, well, I've got plenty of imagination, other fics to read, and oh yeah, thanks to finally getting that W7 laptop up and functional I've been futzing about with Champions Online again. More on that in The Legendary, rather than derailing here.
--
"Anko, what you do in your free time is your own choice. Use it wisely. And if you do not use it wisely, make sure you thoroughly enjoy whatever unwise thing you are doing." - HymnOfRagnorok as Orochimaru at SpaceBattles
woot Med. Eng., verb, 1st & 3rd pers. prsnt. sg. know, knows
- Black Aeronaut - 03-22-2014
Sasami isn't really going to hold that one over Garrick's head. After all, Yakage played the 'Fight Fairly' card. He'll be the one to get the cold shoulder for the next week.
As you mentioned, there are places I would like to get with this fic and for that reason there's going to be more than a few time-skips as we jump to story arcs where Garrick is going to have a major role. (The one with that Garyu brat comes to mind.)
That said... I'm debating over how to cover the next transitional bit. Part of me feels that it would be better if I spent more time on it and fleshed out the details of Garrick's education under Yakage, perhaps by writing about a lesson or two. However, another part feels that this doesn't really serve to develop the plot much and can be easily glossed over - the only part that really matters is how this affects Minagi, and in turn her relationship with Garrick.
Thoughts?
- robkelk - 03-22-2014
Quote:Thoughts?"Even Rocky had a montage"... but not a big one. A few paragraphs should be sufficient for a montage here.
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."
- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012
- classicdrogn - 03-22-2014
Yeah, I'm with Rob. Just enough to show that time is passing and things are happening, without bogging down on it.
--
"Anko, what you do in your free time is your own choice. Use it wisely. And if you do not use it wisely, make sure you thoroughly enjoy whatever unwise thing you are doing." - HymnOfRagnorok as Orochimaru at SpaceBattles
woot Med. Eng., verb, 1st & 3rd pers. prsnt. sg. know, knows
- Black Aeronaut - 03-23-2014
Okay then. New stuff will be forthcoming later tonight. Just gotta clean it up a bit.
- Black Aeronaut - 03-23-2014
Here we are. It's a little on the short-side, but expected nonetheless.
During my week of recovery, Yakage taught me the basics. He was
pleased that I already knew what he thought of as the elementary
essentials – metallurgy, chemistry, physics, and how the three
played together. Once he assessed my knowledge there, we quickly
moved onto a crash course in high-energy physics and exotic
particles. I threw myself into it and Yakage was quietly pleased.
After Washu implanted the new heart and gave me a bit of physical
rehabilitation, though, the first thing Yakage had me do was to build
a proper smithy in my C-Space.
The thing about forging blades is that while it is very dangerous,
strenuous, and painstaking work... it produces an end product that
has been heat-treated to a magnificent degree. Granted, you can take
a piece of metal that has already been forged and shave it all away
until you have a sword... but there are other things to consider,
like the grain of the metal. (This is why in automobile engines
forged cranks are far superior to machined ones.)
I could write an article here and now about what I learned... but
that's not what I'm doing, and that's not why you're reading this.
Simply put, Yakage started teaching me to make swords. And I took to
it like a fish to water. I weathered the heat of the forge as I
learned to work metal while it was hot. I learned, up close and
personally, how different metals behaved when they were heated,
molded, beaten, cooled and reheated over and over again.
Minagi and Sasami would watch in their spare time after bringing us
lunches, fascinated by the entire process. At times, the others
would come to witness this new art form that had come to our home.
The process had a hypnotic quality to it not unlike a runner's high.
There would be times when I would get lost in it, seeing nothing but
the steel I was working, heating and folding again and again and
again. Hours would pass like this and I would feel no real sign of
fatigue or hunger until I finally stepped back to admire my work.
And then it would hit me and I would all but pass out.
Yakage was a bit shocked himself, but in the end he found it to be
utterly satisfactory. At these times, he would give me a day to
recover my energy, but he would also spend it filling my mind with
the knowledge of energy blades – the types, classifications, how
they worked, what they did, and how to create them.
Most fascinating of all was the Lighthawk Sword – a piece of matter
transmuted by a Lighthawk Wing – broken down into the meanest
components of matter and energy, and reformed into a blade that stood
with no rival. It would cut anything and defeat any defense, save
for another construct made with a Lighthawk Wing.
And Yakage pushed me as hard as he could. All my other training was
forsaken as he worked furiously to cram as much knowledge down my
throat as he could. My days would end with me tired and sore, so
Minagi would carefully help me bathe, viciously attack the developing
knots in my muscles, and then contently curl up with me in my bed.
If that isn't love, then I don't know what is.
I knew this wouldn't last... but I still wish it had lasted longer
than it did.
It happened two months after Yakage had taken me on as his student.
The day after I had finally forged a blade he deemed acceptable as a
serviceable weapon. It was as though, like Charles Schultz after he
penned his final Peanuts comic, Yakage had decided that he'd done
what he could, and passed away peacefully in his sleep.
From what I could remember, he seemed happier than even Minagi could
remember. He was at peace and even laughed with everyone else at the
dinner table, enjoying the fine food Sasami had made that night. We
were having Tonkatsu with homemade ginger sauce to celebrate my
achievement that night. Yakage was honestly pleased with me. And
then we had a few drinks and went to bed, our heads gently buzzing
like our lightened hearts.
And in the morning, Yakage did not wake up again. He simply laid
there in state, a small, satisfied smile on his face. In one
timeline, he died violently, but satisfied. Here, thanks to me, he
died peacefully, yet still satisfied.
I don't think I could ever eat Tonkatsu again, not without
remembering that bittersweet memory.
Of course, this meant one other thing...
The lake was so still that evening that it looked like polished
glass. Hinase was a pristine carving that sat on the surface,
making not a single ripple. A mortician that Yosho knew prepared the
body for its departure in the Japanese fashion. Yakage had his final
bath and shave, was carefully dressed, and finally encoffined. Yosho
gave the final rights.
Minagi quietly wept the whole time. The only words that I could get
from her were,
“I have to take him back... I have to bring him to the place he was
happiest at. It's the only place he can truly rest.”
And so, once everything had been said and done, and the coffin was
aboard Hinase, Minagi and I were left alone to say our
goodbyes out on the boardwalk.
“So... this is it, then,” I said softly as the sun began to hang
low in the sky. “But, you're coming back, right?”
“I don't know... Garrick, please don't misunderstand me... but
I... I'm different from how I used to be. Even though I have my
memories... I need to find out who I am... and I don't know if I
could do that with someone telling me, no matter how well intentioned
they are.” I gave Minagi a shocked look since I never really told
her what I saw in her – just that she seemed more like the Real
Minagi as opposed to the programmed one.
Minagi caught the look and gave me a sad smile. “Don't worry. You
didn't really mean it. At least you never said anything about it.
But I can see what it is you would like me to be, Garrick,” she
said as she gently caressed my face, that smile never leaving her
lips. “A wife... and a mother... I love you, Garrick, for
everything you have done for me... but I don't know if I am ready for
that.”
“I'm sorry...” I said softly.
“Oh Garrick! You sweet silly man!” cried Minagi, exasperated and
amused at once. “You never forced the issue. You never even
asked. You just let me be free to do as I wished. The only time you
ever stopped me from doing anything was our first night together.”
“I... did?” I asked, a bit clueless.
Minagi smiled. “You didn't intend it, but you did. You put your
arm around me... and kept me from running when Ryoko showed up. And
I am so happy you did because you showed me that you would accept
me... even though I tried to kill you and Tenchi.”
“I... just wanted you to see... we really do care about you.”
“I know you do Garrick. But I have to go. Please, let me go.”
I sighed heavily. Minagi had to do this. She must. She needed the
time to come to realize who she really was. And that meant not
having anyone looking over her shoulder and trying to suggest what
she ought to do.
With no other choice, I pulled Minagi into a tight embrace.
“I'm going to miss you,” I whispered to her.
“Me too. Will you wait for me?”
“Tsunami herself couldn't keep me.”
“I'll hold you to that, Garrick Grimm.”
Slowly, reluctantly, we let each other go, our fingertips slipping
apart last as though we had been clinging together like our lives
depended on it. Minagi gave me one last sad, tearful smile, then
teleported into Hinase. The ship lifted off gently, at last
disturbing the water as it did so, and as it lifted off it began to
fade from view as the Storming Field came on line to hide it from
prying eyes and radars.
I was outside on the board walk for a very long time afterwards.
In the end, I came to realize that while I had set out to try and
circumvent some of the pain that would come, I had instead brought it
all upon myself and Minagi.
I felt like such a heel.
Eventually, I got
over it. My newfound family would not let me feel sorry for myself.
Especially not Sasami-chan. The effort she put into lifting my
spirits always made me wonder about her true feelings... but I would
always just chalk it up to her place in the grand scheme of things.
With everyone's
help, though, I bounced back and things returned to normal. The one
exception being now that Yosho and Ayeka felt I was proficient enough
in the etiquette of the Royal Household and the political system, my
education in swordsmithing took that lesson's place in my routine.
Washu, being the
cagey sort she was, convinced Yakage to donate his memory engrams so
she could create an educational program for me.
I had to admit, it
took some getting used to. Not because it looked just like him. Far
from it, in fact – it presented itself as a blue-colored amorphous
man-shaped figure roughly the same size as Yakage had been... but as
dull and featureless as a department store mannequin. The only way
for it to emote was through its voice, and even that was a somewhat
tinny sounding replica of Yakage's own voice, as though it had been
recorded on a cheap microphone – the sort that used to come with a
personal computer as a gimmick.
Washu was very
specific about its capabilities. The construct had Yakage's
memories. It could perform some advanced problem solving using his
knowledge. It could even suggest a few ideas based on what it knew.
But its long-term
memory was immutable. It never learned and never changed. It was
hardly even self-aware. While it could help me with a research
topic, there lay the extent of its capabilities.
Essentially, it was
like a holocron from Star Wars.
That hadn't been
Washu's intention, but that's what we had. Regardless, I was
grateful for it. With it, I would eventually gain the mastery that
Yakage had desired for me.
Come hell or high
water, I will make that man proud of me.
- Black Aeronaut - 03-23-2014
Further thoughts...
I'm considering having Garrick jump after this. Really, I think it would be a great point for him to go, because if he stays too much longer in Tenchi-verse he runs the risk of becoming overpowered in whatever setting we put him in.
It will also set us up for some great side-stories for when Minagi shows back up, and asks the all-important question: What happened to Garrick?
This will also address issues with me wanting to move the story along and Garrick becoming too central the plot of Tenchi Muyo.
So, what do you think?
- robkelk - 03-23-2014
It's your story, and only you know where you want it to end up. For that matter, only you know Garrick's next stop on his travels (unless it's Macross, which for some reason I don't think is likely).
You've already set things up so that Washuu-chan can (try to) track Garrick through his travels, possibly communicate with him, and possibly pull him back if necessary. Thus, there's an information conduit that you can use to pass necessary information to Garrick if necessary - assuming Washuu can find the data, which likely doesn't always apply to situations in other universes.
So, what would make for the better story? Should he stay or should he go? Is there any benefit to the plot for one over the other?
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."
- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012
- Bluemage - 03-24-2014
Yosho gave the final rites, not rights.
You're right that this is a good time to leave. You just completed a story arc; that puts you in the perfect position to simply move onto the next one, somewhere else.
That's precisely why I suggest that you stay a while longer. It's too pat, too simple. Everything's gone your way, so far- or gone against you in a way that would be easily fixed, like with getting heartbroken within range of Washuu. Garrick could use a bit of misfortune, and I say that disappearing in the middle of doing something plot-related would be a good way to start.
Of course, everything depends on why and when you're being jumped. If it's random, stay long enough to show that. If it's being managed by some RO(enough)B, you could go either way, depending on said being's disposition towards you. If it's automatic, then set the rules, and stick with them.
If you always jump out at the end of an arc, then write an arc where you fail, but jump out anyway. Screaming denials optional, but thematic and/or preferred.
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.
- Black Aeronaut - 03-24-2014
Okay, taking all that into consideration, Garrick will stay... for now.
Let's see about adding some complications to his life, shall we?
Some people call me
crazy. Personally, I think it's kinda silly, because really, you
have to be at least a little crazy to get by in life and still keep
smiling. However at times I have to wonder about my sanity myself.
This was especially
true as I calmly reached over from the passenger seat in my truck and
turned the ignition to 'OFF'. Scrappy's engine immediately stopped
without even a sputter and the truck jerked to a halt in the fallow
field.
And then Mihoshi
bawled.
I sighed.
“Mihoshi, I'm not angry and you're not in trouble.”
Mihoshi's crying
stopped as quickly as Scrappy's engine had, only she hiccuped before
she asked, “You're not? I'm not?”
“No,” I said
mildly. “I only stopped the engine because you were going too
fast. We would have run out of room before you could react.”
“Oh. Okay,”
replied Mihoshi both mollified and mystified.
“Now, try not to
forget – the only thing we're doing here is getting you used to
working the clutch. Nothing more, nothing less.”
It had been a slow
process thus far, but I knew that going into it. And fortunately,
Murphy seemed content to let the whole thing slide. Though it might
be because I was doing this in as much of a controlled condition as I
could manage.
For one thing, we
were using one of the fields that Tenchi was letting go fallow for a
couple rotations, and at a time when the ground had enough wild grass
and not so much water that my truck would get stuck.
For another thing,
I was using the simple, step-by-step method my father taught me for
learning to drive a vehicle with a manual transmission. The first
step was just learning to get a feel for the clutch – where it
grabs, where it lets go... but most importantly, where that sweet
spot in between is for getting a car moving.
The second step was
where we were at at that moment. This was using the clutch and the
accelerator to get the vehicle moving, and then stopping. Just
starting and stopping in first gear. Nothing fancy at all.
“Now, put the
transmission into neutral gear.”
“Alright. Done.”
“Good. Clutch
in.”
“Clutch in.”
“Now start the
engine.”
“Starting!”
Mihoshi turned the key, and the engine turned over, catching swiftly.
“I did it!”
I smiled
encouragingly to her. “Good. Clutch still in?”
“Yes.”
“Shift the
transmission into first gear again.”
“Okay.”
“That's Reverse
gear Mihoshi. First is on the opposite end of the key.”
“Oh! Right!”
“Good. Now,
begin the exercise.”
And so it went.
Mihoshi would get Scrappy rolling, and then stop him nice and easy
like. By the time Tenchi came over with his tools, signifying the
end of the day, I had Mihoshi turning easy circles in the field.
“Hey Gar-kun,”
said Tenchi breezily as Mihoshi and I got out so we could all trade
places. “How did it go today?”
“It went great!”
I said happily. “Mihoshi's a good learner, but it's easy to
overwhelm her sometimes. If she and I take this just a little at a
time she'll be driving like a pro in no time.”
“So what will we
do tomorrow, Onii-chan?” asked Mihoshi as she got into the jumpseat
on the passenger side.”
“We'll keep
practicing starting and stopping and maybe we'll start on second
gear.”
“Yay!” cheered
Mihoshi.
Honestly, I wasn't
entirely clear on the legalities of the matter. In all essence, I
was an unlicensed instructor teaching someone else to drive an
automobile. In America, so long as you were on private land, you
could tell the law to shove it and exactly how far.
The Japanese tend
to be a little more strict in matters of public safety, but on the
other hand they also tend to let the private matters of families and
their close friends be. This stemming from the days when the local
law didn't get involved with the household affairs of a Samurai and
his allies. Let the man's superiors handle his conduct. I could
find it admirable in some ways, but at other times...
Best for me not to
dwell on that matter anyhow.
The whole point as
to make sure that Mihoshi was prepared for her formal driving
instruction. I'd told the others about what had gone on before –
how she had embarrassed the driving school and that Ryoko lost that
bet she made with Sasami-chan.
So, after two weeks
of instructing Mihoshi, she was driving my truck through the fields
like a rally racer.
“I think you're
ready,” I said with a smile as Tenchi approached with his tools.
“You really think
so!?” cried out Mihoshi gleefully.
“Yeah. Just keep
it slow and remember the difference between the tachometer and the
speedometer.”
“The tachometer
only indicates the speed of the engine's crankshaft.”
“That's a girl!”
I praised her, and Mihoshi glowed as she wiggled gleefully. “The
one thing you'll have to be careful about is the difference between
my vehicle and the rest of the vehicles made for use here in Japan.”
“The driver side
is on the left so all the controls are mirrored.”
“You got it. You
ready to take us back to the house?”
“I can?” she
asked, her eyes brightening.
“Absolutely. I'm
sure you can handle it fine. Just remember-”
“Slow and easy,”
Mihoshi finished for me.
“Outstanding.”
I then got out and looked to Tenchi as as he loaded his tools in
through the tailgate. “Ready?”
“Mihoshi's
driving back?” he asked cautiously.
“Yep. She's got
it all down pat.”
As Mihoshi drove us
back down to the house like she'd been doing it all her life, I never
suspected that it would lead to such an upheaval in my existence here
in Japan.
“Hello! This is
the Masaki Residence!” I heard Sasami-chan's voice chirping through
my open door. One thing I made sure of was that the acoustics in my
space were exceptional – voices carried clearly without echoing and
yet sharp noises would be muffled.
“Oh? You mean
Garrick? Hold on please.”
“Bwa?” I
muttered as I turned away from my current project – shopping for
computer parts online (Washu had to finagle me an internet connection
with a pirated satellite link since there was no DSL service here...
yet). The process was turning into a headache anyhow since stuff
that was fifteen years out of date by my perspective was selling for
top dollar. I poked my head out the doorway just as Sasami was
approaching.
“Nii-chan,
Someone from Mihoshi's driving school wants to talk to you.”
I blinked at that.
“Isn't that strange,” I murmured as I followed her down to the
phone by the front door.
“Hello!” I said
cheerfully once I picked up the handset. “This is Garrick
speaking.”
“My name is Obito
Mihara. Mr. Grimm, please pardon me, but do you know a young woman
by the name of Mihoshi Kuramitsu?”
“Ah yes, I do.
She is a good friend of mine. Almost like family.”
“I see, so that's
why she refers to you as her big brother. Mr. Grimm... Miss
Kuramitsu has been experiencing some... difficulties... here at our
driving school.” I sighed quietly at that. I guess there was just
no cheating fate sometimes. Before I could say anything he went on,
“She has been insisting that the only person that can teach her is
you, Mr. Grimm. For that reason, I would respectfully ask if you
could set aside some time to come visit us.”
Hoo boy. “Ah,
Mr. Mihara, if this is about my informal training of Miss Kuramitsu,
the I assure you that no laws were violated to my knowledge.”
“Please don't
worry about that Mr. Grimm. In all honesty, I am curious to see the
techniques that you employ in teaching such a case as Miss
Kuramitsu's.”
“Oh dear,” I
breathed as I could only imagine the chaos that Mihoshi was putting
all the other instructors through. “Well... in that case, would it
be alright if I made a demonstration at a time when no other drivers
are on your obstacle course?”
“I think we can
manage that. Why do you ask?”
“In a case like
Miss Kuramitsu's, its best of she is not overwhelmed. She can learn
to cope, but it requires time, patience, and a very gentle learning
curve.”
“I see your
point. In that case, would this Saturday morning be acceptable?”
“Perfectly Mr.
Mihara. It will be my pleasure.”
That Saturday,
Mihoshi and I showed up bright and early to meet Mr. Mihara. Much to
our surprise, a young girl jumped out of the car we had thought to be
Mr. Mihara's, only to be followed by the old man himself.
“Oh, she is
adorable!” I said softly.
Mihoshi giggled.
“She's about Sasami-chan's age.” Mihoshi then took on a saddened
cast as she said. “I hope I don't let her down.”
A man in a leather
jacket and a ski mask elbowed past me and I froze. What? Wait a
minute! Not this! I began to run, praying my feet would carry me
quickly enough.
The adorable girl
screamed.
I jumped.
“Don't-” said
the masked man, but my foot interrupted him. He flipped backwards,
his head cracking on the pavement. He was out like a lamp.
I righted myself
and turned to the girl. “Are you okay!?” I asked.
She never got the
chance to answer because I then heard the SUV's engine revving. I
saw it coming – straight for me and the girl.
Oh Goddess no!
If there is one
thing I can say that I honestly specialize in, it's taking a fall.
You could almost call me cat-like in that regard. And in some ways,
taking a hit is not much different in taking a fall.
I grabbed the tiny
girl up in my arms, turn my back to the SUV, jumped, and then prayed
to whoever was watching over me.
Pain burst like a
gasoline-filled water balloon to a match, starting in my hips and
going up through my spine, shoulders, neck, and then my head. I felt
myself roll across the SUV and I tightened my hold on the girl –
she was Sasami-chan's age and yet she was so tiny! - protecting her
face and keeping her arms pinned her her chest. I curled around her
as I rolled, keeping my weight off her. I rolled again – dimly I
realized it had no luggage rack and I was thankful for this.
Suddenly, the SUV
disappeared from under me and gravity pulled us back down. Pain came
once more as my left shoulder took the brunt of our weight on impact.
Oddly enough, the first thing I saw was the gun the masked man had
used. I recognized it as an M9 Barreta – military issue.
“Mihoshi!” I
called out, my voice twisted by the pain. “Shoot the tires!”
“Oh! Right!”
Mihoshi answered. And just like that she whipped her GP Standard
Issue Particle Projector Pistol and let loose. Interesting thing:
Mihoshi is a beautiful woman to look at – even when she's staring
down at you with all the righteous fury of a woman scorned. It is a
pity we don't get to see this side of her more often.
Of course, Mihoshi
being Mihoshi, she missed the tires completely. Instead she managed
to burn away the tie-down lines on a truck loaded with furniture –
a futon flopped over the SUV and the driver lost control, sending it
careening into the water on the other side of the embankment.
Seeing that it was
done, I flopped onto my back. Suddenly, the tiny weight on my chest
that I had forgotten about shifted. The little girl appeared in my
field of vision, her eyes worried with concern.
“Are you okay?”
she asked, horrified at how I appeared.
“No,” I croaked
honestly. I then smiled ruefully. “But I'll get better and live a
long life. What is important is that you're okay, my tiny little
bird.” I stole a quick glance to the side and say the masked man.
His body... didn't look right.
“YUKI!” cried
out the old man as he ran up to us. I was starting to hear sirens in
the distance.
“Grandpa!”
cried out the girl, Yuki I now knew, as she jumped up and hugged her
grandfather, no worse for wear. And then she began to tug him back
towards me. “He's hurt pretty bad grandpa.”
“Big Brother!”
cried out Mihoshi as she ran over.
I thought fast.
Mihoshi needed something to do, and I didn't want Yuki to see the
mangled body of her would-be kidnapper.
“Yuki, is that
your name?” I asked. The girl nodded. “I want you to do me a
favor. Put your head on my chest and listen to my heart. Tell me
how it sounds. Mihoshi?”
“Yes Big
Brother?”
“Go get the
jacket from that man with the mask – I may need to be kept warm.
Once you do that, call Washu-chan. She'll know what to do.”
“So, you are Mr.
Grimm,” said the Grandfather.
“At your
service,” I replied with a rueful smile. “I assume you are Mr.
Mihara?”
“Yes, I am
him...” He then looked down to his granddaughter and said, “How
does Mr. Grimm's heart sound, Yuki?”
Yuki yelped and
turned bright red. Uh-oh, I thought to myself, shooting a look to
Mr. Mihara. The old man simply smiled as though to say, 'Little
girls, they're all the same.'
“His heart sounds
kinda fast, but it's strong and steady.”
I smiled. “My
heart always runs a bit fast. I think I'll be just fine.”
“Here, Big
Brother,” called out Mihoshi as came over and began to drape the
jacket over me. “Washu-chan says she's on her way now.”
“Thanks Mihoshi,”
I said as I tried not to move – now that the adrenaline rush was
past I was really starting to ache. Thank you, Washu-chan – those
tweaks are working just as you prescribed.
And speaking of the
devil, Washu-chan came running over.
“GARRICK!” she
cried out. “How in the holy name of the Golden Ratio do you keep
winding up like this?” Yuki and Mr. Mihara backed away to let
Washu do her business, but little Yuki stayed close by. The police
were arriving and Mr. Mihara decided that, seeing as his daughter was
safe, it would be best to deal with the police for the moment. He
was, after all, a highly respected member of the community.
I aimed my rueful
smile at Washu-chan and said, “Sorry about this Washu-chan. I
guess I'm just a stupid American that can't keep his nose out of
other peoples' business.”
Washu snorted. “At
least you're honest. Let's see how bad you are.”
“Careful of the
left shoulder, I think I managed to dislocate it.”
I winced as Washu
probed it carefully. “Yeah, it is alright. Let's see what else is
wrong.” She popped up a discreet holographic screen that displayed
diagnostic information from some medical nanomachines that had been
left in my system for just this purpose. Yuki gazed in wide-eyed
shock, but I simply smiled and put my index finger to my lips.
“Shhhh.”
Yuki nodded
vigorously, smiling gleefully. I knew that look – this meant she
now had a Big Secret. I didn't mind. Sasami-chan could probably use
a friend that was not simply outside the weirdness at our home, but
also knew about it. This way she could really let her hair down, so
to speak.
“Well, you got
lots of bruises, some strained tendons and ligaments... but for the
most part it looks like your upgrades are doing their job. You'll be
sore for a day or two, but you should still be able to move around,
especially once we fix that shoulder of yours.”
“Uhm,
Washu-chan?”
“Yes Garrick?”
“You did design
these upgrades to be invisible to the medical technology of Earth,
right?”
“I did, why?”
“Because I see
paramedics coming my way, and knowing them they'll want to keep me
overnight at the very least.”
“Oh.”
The next few hours
were a whirlwind. Once the paramedics determined that my life was in
no danger they permitted the police to question me as they prepared
me to be transported to the hospital. I told them that I saw the man
with the mask on – noticed that he seemed to be vary suspicious and
that he was heading straight for Yuki Mihara. I then told them that
I had see the outline of the gun through his jacket – a little
white lie, but one that wouldn't hurt – and that I knew for certain
that he intended harm for that girl.
As for Mihoshi's
gun... well, Mr. Mihara is a very practical man. He simply claimed
that he saw no such weapon. Perhaps the load on that truck hadn't
been properly secured?
One last thing I
felt I had to do was to call specific attention to the gun: namely
it's military characteristics that I was intimately familiar with.
With that, the
police officers blinked, called up their headquarters, reported the
characteristics of the gun in question, got their answers, and then
bowed and thanked me for my hard work. And then they politely asked
that I try not to do anything so brash again.
However, for one of
the patrolmen this was not quite enough.
“Why do you
Americans have to meddle like this?” he growled, despite his
partner urging him to leave me be. I glared back at the man and then
pointed my nose to Yuki, who was talking and laughing with Mihoshi.
“You see that
little girl over there? I meddled because I was not about to let an
innocent child suffer at the hands of those honorless thugs.”
“You seriously
mean that you didn't do this for any sort of glory!?”
“Officer, I am in
PAIN here. You think I wanted to mess myself up just to gain
recognition? Hell, I didn't even think the driver would be so
cowardly as to try and run us all over with his truck. My only
concern was that innocent little girl.”
“Just don't do it
anymore,” grumbled the officer as he stalked off.
When I originally wrote this, I had Garrick grab the gun himself and empty the magazine to shoot out one of the tires on the kidnapper's SUV and cause him to loose control of the vehicle. However, I figured that was just a little too much yippee-kai-yay and, this being Japan, would land Garrick into all kinds of hot water that wouldn't be conducive to the plot. Better to have Mihoshi use her gun instead. No bullet casings to explain.
- Bob Schroeck - 03-24-2014
More good stuff, and yes, I like not taking the obvious moment to move on. You have a few typos and word choice errors that need addressing, like
Quote:its best of she is not overwhelmedbut as usual, the large-scale stuff is handled very well.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.
- Black Aeronaut - 03-25-2014
Thank you once again for your vote of confidence, Bob.
Well, good news is that a while back I jumped ahead in my writing of this sordid tale, and now that I have caught up with that, we now have a buffer once more. However, that said I'll still be spacing out the updates. I know, I know. I want to shotgun the whole thing myself, but on the same token I want to get back to posting larger pieces of the story so you guys really have something to sink your teeth into. Unfortunately, Batzulger I am not. :p
(How the heck does he do it anyhow!?)
Anyhow, on our next episode, history for Garrick repeats itself in the form of a lovestruck little girl. Batten down the hatches! Typhoon Yuki off the port bow!
- Black Aeronaut - 03-27-2014
Okay, got some stuff to put out.
First of all, I got a good lead on how to wrap this up and start on the next world. And the best part is that it satisfies my desire to have everything tied up and a neat little Gordian knot, and yet still leave things hanging.
I'll spoil it for you guys just this once so I can get some commentary on the matter before I go through with it. (The awkward multi-part spoiler is because Yuku won't nest the spoiler tag. Probably better this way anyhow.)
Spoiler Part AROB SpoilerSpoiler Part BSo, that's what I got in mind. Thoughts, please?
![[+]](/images/collapse_collapsed.png "[+]")
SpoilerOh, and also, have a bit of story to munch on, too!
The others all came
to visit me. Ayeka chastised me for being reckless... then
congratulated me on showing that I had a true heart of a nobleman.
Sasami-chan simply gave me a kiss on the cheek and wished that her
courageous Onii-chan gets better soon. Tenchi said I was crazy, but
in a good way. Ryoko said I was pretty damn cool for pulling a stunt
like that. Mihoshi lamented my refusal to become a GP officer so she
could have me as her partner.
And then Mr. Mihara
showed up with Yuki, and I asked everyone to leave so I can speak
privately with Mr. Mihara.
“I never did
thank you properly for what you did today, Mr. Grimm,” the old man
said. “My granddaughter could have been traumatized for life from
her experience today... but because of you, she is happy and smiling
instead.” The old man smiled and laughed. “You would think that
she went on some grand adventure from the way she describes it!
Isn't that something? Children have such vivid imaginations.”
I smiled back at
the happy grandfather. “I know what you mean. I still remember
what it was like being a child and imagining such things. I suppose
that's part of why I did what I did today. I remember being a child,
and how hard it is when my hopes and dreams were crushed. I wouldn't
wish that heartbreak on anyone.”
Mr. Mihara nodded
knowingly. “It's a shame you do not seem to have any children of
your own, Mr. Grimm. I suspect if you did you would probably be a
great father. But regardless, we do need to talk about your future.”
“My future?” I
replied in surprise. “Do you have something in mind, Mr. Mihara?”
Mr. Mihara smiled
at me. “If your method of instruction does indeed prove to be
effective, then I will employ you immediately.”
I blinked. “Wait,
doesn't that require special certification?”
Mr. Mihara waved it
off. “With my connections it is a mere formality. Mr. Grimm, I
have seen Miss Kuramitsu in action recently. And I feel that if you
are able to make her into a competent driver, then you would be the
best teacher in the world, bar none.”
“You want me to
work at your school teaching people to drive.”
“Do you have any
objections about it?” Mr. Mihara said.
I frowned at that.
Personally, I didn't have any real objections, but on the other
hand...
“I... may have
certain family obligations that would render me unavailable for weeks
at a time. They tend to come on short notice.”
Mr. Mihara nodded
understandingly. “Of course. In that case, we will fully document
your training of Miss Kuramitsu and you will use that documentation
to train several of our instructors in your training methods.
Afterwards, we will retain you as a senior instructor at our school,
so you will be free to take leave as you need it.”
“... Well, I can
see why everyone calls you 'Chief' now. Where do I sign?”
The old man
guffawed heartily. “Don't worry about it now. On Monday we'll sit
down with my lawyer – you'll probably want to bring one of your
own, just for your own peace of mind – and we'll draw up your
contract of employment.”
I felt my eyebrows
shoot up to the top of my skull. “Is that really necessary?”
“You forget
yourself – your a foreign national here in Japan, and you're going
to be educating people to safely move a ton of steel down crowded
streets at high speeds.”
I scoffed at that.
“Oh. Sure. No pressure. None at all.” I then made a motion as
though to hang myself. “GAAACK!”
Mr. Mihara laughed.
“Well, at least you do have a sense of humor. Which is a lot more
than I can say about some of the stiffs my son has working there.”
Mr. Mihara left
after exchanging some pleasantries with me. Taking his place was
Sasami-chan and Yuki. Yuki seemed nervous about something and
Sasami-chan kept nudging her closer to me. A sense of dread
curiosity washed over me as I began to worry over what the girl might
say next.
I could just hear
it now. 'You bravery stole my heart away, Mr. Grimm! Please wait
for me – I promise I will be a good wife.' The scary part is that
it's not at all without precedence in this country.
Yuki then opened
her mouth and I braced myself.
“Mr. Grimm...
this is kind of embarrassing for me... but could you help me with my
English homework?”
I let go of the
breath I was holding and felt myself deflate with relief.
“Yuki-chan, you
could ask me to help you write a doctoral thesis on American Studies
and I would not mind one bit. Pull up that feeding table and get
yourself settled. It's cram time.”
When I was a child,
I had issues with learning to read. Fortunately, the school I went
to had an incredibly comprehensive phonics and vocabulary program.
All the bizarre quirks of everyday English phonetics was simplified
into glyphs that were easy to memorize, and just as easy to wean us
off of.
To this day, I
couldn't recall all the glyphs they used, but I could remember some
of the more important and useful ones – like the subtext letter 'e'
to denote a silent-e, or the 'ing' with a rocker over it to denote
the slurring of the three letters that was commonly used to indicate
a verb.
With these tools
from my childhood, I quickly marked-up Yuki's verbal practice
assignment and provided her with a key... and then I began to drill
her relentlessly on each of the different sounds.
“Close, but not
quite,” I told her. “to make the proper 'r' sound you need to
keep the tip of your tongue from touching to roof of your mouth. And
don't forget – middle of your palette, not the front. The front is
for the 'l' sound. Try again.”
“Okay,” sighed
the little girl. As she focused on making 'ra', 'ri', 'ru', 're',
and 'ro' sounds, her Grandfather and Washu-chan stepped in and
watched in fascination for a moment.
“Alright, that
sounded a lot better,” I praised her. “Even just with that
you'll knock your classmates off their feet. But I do hope that you
get better at it.”
At that, Washu
stepped forward with a smile on her face, and clapped twice.
“Okay, kiddos, as
much as I hate to interrupt a study session, visiting hours are
over.”
“Moouuu,”
moaned Sasami-chan and Yuki at the same time.
“Oh, don't be
that way you two,” I said. “Especially you, Sasami-chan. You
know that visitors are always welcome in our home. We can do more
study sessions later next week. Besides, aren't you gonna show her
around tomorrow?”
Sasami had the
decency to laugh nervously as she rubbed the back of her head. “But
Onii-chan, it won't be the same without you.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Of course not. Nothing is ever the same without me.”
Washu snorted.
“Don't be getting so full of yourself now. C'mon. Time to let Mr.
Courageous get some beauty rest.”
The girls and I
waved goodbye to each other as they left, but Washu-chan stayed
behind for just a moment longer.
“You know, from
what you've told me things might not have gone so badly if you'd just
let them play out as they were supposed to.”
I sighed at that.
“You should know better, Washu-chan. Temporal Momentum may be in
effect, but so is the Butterfly Effect. Yakage was supposed to die
months ago. Instead, he hung in there for as long as he could,
teaching me what he can.”
“It was your
idea,” Washu shot back mildly.
“I thought you
were the one that put it into his head that I should be his student.”
“And you were the
one that put it in my head
that I should do something about it. Therefore, your idea. Not
mine.”
“Ugh,” I
groaned. “Semantics! Either way, he could very well have decided
to go through with fighting Tenchi anyhow. Blaze of glory and all.”
Washu sighed
herself now. “Look, we'll have this argument later, Garrick. Just
get some rest or else...” She then put on a Stepford Smile so
horrifying that it would have sent a chill down my
spine if I didn't know Washu that well. “...I'll drug you to sleep
myself.”
I snorted at that display. “Get the hell outta here ya damn
lunatic.”
Washu just cackled insanely, undoubtedly raising the hackles of every
woman at the nurses station as she went. I just smiled and shook my
head – kinda hard not to love that mad scientist.
I woke up the next morning, stiff and tired, but the staff informed
me that I was to be discharged no matter how bad I felt – they had
no more reason to keep me there, and as the old saw goes, a hospital
bed made is a hospital bed filled.
Of course, it seemed that no one back home remembered.
Suddenly, a familiar looking sedan pulled up. In the back seat was
not the Mr. Mihara I knew, but a somewhat younger specimen that
resembled him... along with a much much younger face that I knew only
too well.
“Ah! Yuki-chan! What are you doing here?”
“We came to see you, Gar-kun! But I thought you would be inside
still.”
“Nah. I got discharged today, though I sure could use a nice long
soak in the bath. I'm stiff as a board.”
“Come with us then! We were going to your house after we saw you
anyhow.”
“Ah, thank you so much. I would appreciate that, and it seems they
forgot about me anyhow.”
“So, you are the Mr. Grimm I've heard so much about,” said the
man as he stepped out of the vehicle. “May daughter speaks very
highly of you. As does my Father.”
“I assume then that you are Mr. Mihara?”
“I am. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” he said as
he bowed to me.
“The pleasure is all mine,” I replied.
“Of course. Please, get in. There's quite a bit I would like to
discuss along the way.”
Mr. Mihara's sedan was more like a small limousine on the inside. It
was so roomy that the three of us fit into the back seat without even
touching. Although Yuki surprisingly grabbed ahold of my arm.
I gave the girl a bemused look.
“Yuki-chan,” said her father somewhat gruffly. “You're making
him uncomfortable.”
“Oh no! It's alright Mr. Mihara. She just reminds me of some of
my little cousins from back home. They're all grown now, so it's
actually pretty nostalgic for me.”
Mr. Mihara grunted softly and nodded. “Anyhow... I've heard many
interesting things about you, Mr. Grimm. Double-doctorate in
Engineering fields, patent holder of that automotive diesel-electric
system, you practice swordplay, you're a veteran of the US Navy, and
you teach the most hopeless person behind the wheel of a car I have
ever seen to drive like a professional. But most importantly, you
save my daughter, coming down on those men like a professional
bodyguard. Who are you, Mr. Grimm, and what are you doing here in
Okayama?”
“Ah... I think someone has loose lips,” I quipped.
Mr. Mihara simply scowled at me.
I sighed and went on, “I'm a man that would like to leave a
sorrowful past behind Mr. Mihara. I came to Japan to do that. If I
hadn't broken down on the doorstep of the Masaki Household, I may
very well have just become a truck driver so I could continue
wandering this beautiful country.”
“Oh? And why would the Masaki household take you in? I know that
old Priest is a good man, but he's not always one to take in strays.”
I shrugged. “Because there is a little girl over there that would
have been heart broken. She's good like that. She can read people
like a book. She didn't have to read into me too deeply to know how
bad off I was and absolutely demanded they adopt me.”
“And what of your own family?”
I shook my head slowly. “Gone. No trace. I miss them horribly,
but nothing I do will bring them back. So, I just try to move on as
best as I can.” Yuki's grip on my arm tightened.
Mr. Mihara gave me a hard look. “I would think I would have heard
something about that. All but one of a family in America disappears
into nothing? The news outlets would feed on that like sharks.”
“Just goes to show you, the most tragic tales are the ones you
never hear about until you come face-to-face with them. One good
friend of mine... she was taken from her family by the local
government because it was felt that they didn't have the means to
care for her. The foster family she was given to only wanted her to
be a perfect little doll – a status symbol. When she began to
rebel, they sent her to a reform school. Only because she didn't
want to be a perfect little stuffed doll that just sat in a room and
looked pretty.
“She grew up, always fighting, always on the defensive. She was
molested and had to learn how to do horrible things like spitting
razor blades just to protect herself. But she did grow up. She
became a tough, no-nonsense person with a sense of humor so crass
that it was simply not fit for polite company.
“But in her own way, she was beautiful. She was strong in ways few
women are, and yet still very much a woman. I honestly admired her.”
Mr. Mihara gave me an odd look. “You speak of her almost as though
she were a lover.”
I snorted. “Her preference was bad-boys-gone-good. And that was
exactly what she had – an honorable and just man who was a complete
and total bad-boy. Even if she didn't have him around I wouldn't
have stood a chance. Back then I was just a victim trying to come
out of his shell. If anything, I was her Little Brother. And I am
ever grateful for them taking care of me when I needed it.”
Mr. Mihara nodded, seemingly satisfied. “I see then. In that
case, I will not trouble you over your past. You seem to be a highly
virtuous man anyhow. You're in that house surrounded by all those
women... you're either gay or you've got the will of Buda himself!”
“Ugh, no thanks,” I groaned. “I'd very much like to find a
nice woman for myself and start a family.”
Yuki suddenly buried her face in my shoulder.
Mr. Mihara gave me a look. I nodded and mouthed the word 'Later'
while gesturing at Yuki. He nodded in understanding.
Man, I hated having to break a little girl's heart, but at least I
could nip this in the bud and let her down easily.
Back home, I was greeted with embarrassed expressions, to which
Washu-chan promptly whacked everyone from Tenchi on down to
Sasami-chan over the head with a paper fan.
While Sasami-chan showed Yuki around, Yosho had tea with Mr. Mihara
and I went for a nice two-hour-long soak in my own tub inside my
C-Space. Eventually, though, I did get to feeling like a boiled
chicken, so I got out and made myself presentable once more before
going outside.
Mr. Mihara had already left – Yuki would stay the night and I was
to bring her to school tomorrow. I was feeling much better that
evening, so I took Yuki and Sasami-chan up to the shrine so they
could leave offerings and wishes there.
“Oh, Nii-chan, I though you should know that I showed Yuki
Washu-chan's lab.”
I smiled knowingly as we walked sedately down the steps on our way
back to the house. “So, you know everything then, Yuki-chan?”
“Unh,” replied Yuki. “It's so cool! I never thought I would
get to have a princess from another planet as a friend. But what are
you, Gar-kun?”
“I'm human. I just come from a slightly different version of Earth
and a couple decades into the future.”
“What was it like there?”
“Pretty tough. It's not like it was all ravaged by nuclear war or
anything, but there were all kinds of troubles. Rich people getting
richer, poor people getting poorer, economic recessions, polarized
governments, terrorism all over the place, brush fire wars,
revolutions, expensive fuel, and so on and so forth.”
“That is tough,” Yuki replied thoughtfully. “I'm glad you
don't have to live there anymore.”
“Well, speaking of tough, do you still have homework left?”
“Not really. But if you don't mind, I would like help with my
English again.”
I smiled. “Sure thing, small stuff. I'll show you my room next.
It's a bit like Washu-chan's lab, but nowhere nearly as big.”
As soon as we got back, Yuki went charging up the stairs, startling
Ayeka at first. But Yuki, reading Ayeka perfectly, apologized
politely before running up to my door. Not hard to figure out since
it's like Washu's door, just colored differently. Ayeka smiled and
chuckled at the girl's energy and enthusiasm while I gave way for her
to pass by on the stairs.
“And people wonder why I want kids of my own,” I said
sotto-voiced to the Princess.
Ayeka chuckled once more. “Brother, I can hardly wait for the day.
Just make sure we get a chance to inspect the woman before you marry
her.”
“Of course,” I said distractedly, looking over to Yuki, who was
giving me an impatient look.
I spent the entire afternoon showing her my space and all the things
I did. I showed her the smithy and how I practiced my hand at
crafting swords. I showed her the garden room with all my wonderful
plants and my Juraian Seedling, which beamed happily for Yuki,
causing her face to light up with joy. I showed her the workshop
where I put Scooby together. I showed her my drafting table and
workstation where I did my CAD and 3D design work. I showed her my
library, all my reading nooks, and my little kitchen. I even showed
her the bath.
Once all that was done, we cracked open her English workbook and got
to work.
Yuki actually surprised me – she was pronouncing the words with
very little trouble. She still had a distinctly Japanese accent, but
she was perfectly understandable. She must have been practicing with
a religious fervor to improved as much as she did.
“I think we've practiced enough. Sasami-chan should have dinner
done soon so why don't we go downstairs.”
“Gar-kun... before we go outside there is something I want to tell
you...”
Oh boy, here it comes...
“I... I like you. I really do like you, Gar-kun! I think you are
incredibly nice and very smart! You're also tough and strong and
cool! I love how you saved me yesterday! You picked me up and kept
me safe in your strong arms! I think I like your arms the most...
they make me feel safe.”
I sighed heavily, kneeled down to Yuki's level and pulled her into a
hug.
“I like you, too, Yuki. I just wish you were at least ten years
older.”
“But you can wait, right?”
I pulled away from the precocious little girl. “Who told you
that?”
“Sasami-chan.”
I rolled my eyes. “That little imp. Why would she say something
like that?”
“She said that Katherine would keep you young and healthy for a
very long time.”
She would!? I thought to myself. I knew the little seedling
had taken an immediate liking to me from the moment it sprouted, but
I think I would have noticed if Katherine had bonded to me. Even so,
I was starting to wonder what exactly the women in my life were
hiding from me. I wanted to dwell on this matter more, but there was
a more immediate concern at hand.
“And what about you?” I asked Yuki.
“She said she'd find a tree that liked me too.”
I sighed and rolled my eyes. “Little brat covered all the bases.”
Yuki giggled at my expense and I cut a mildly scathing look at her.
“Okay then, what if you have to share me with another woman?”
Yuki gave me a determined look. If she were older and of the right
mindset, I would suspect that she'd try pinning me to a wall.
“Sasami-chan told me about her grandmother and how she likes to
play match maker. She also told me about her mother and her aunt and
how they're best friends even though they share the same husband. If
Grandmother Seto finds you another wife, then I would do my best to
be her friend.”
I suddenly felt like Agent J in Men In Black when he fired the
Noisy Cricket the first time – thrown across a room and flattened.
And then I realized what had just happened: I just had my first face
vault.
What. The. Hell.
Okay, I thought as I picked myself back up, time to shift
tactics.
“Look, Yuki... This is just a crush you're having. You can't tell
me you haven't had one before now.”
“I don't care. You need someone that will stay with you Gar-kun.
I won't leave you alone. I'll take care of you and have your
babies.”
BAM! Again! Evidently this plan of attack wouldn't work, either.
“Whah!” I said incoherently as I got back up again. “A little
young to be thinking that far ahead, aren't you?”
Yuki went bright red. “Ah... Um... well... it's only natural...
when a woman loves a man that she has his children. And I want
someone who is nice and smart and strong and tough like you are to be
my baby's father.” She then looked down to the floor. “They'd
have the best father in the world.”
“Yuki, you're dodging the question.”
“It wouldn't be right away!” she yelled suddenly, eyes screwed
shut. “Not right away. I want to at least wait until I graduate
from high school. Sasami-chan said she'll teach me everything about
being part of the Royal Household. She said she'll even get Mr.
Yosho to teach me to fight for myself.”
“Wait, what!? You want to learn swordsmanship from Yosho!?”
Yuki looked up at me, beaming nothing but pure innocent confusion.
“Ah... is that wrong?”
I sighed heavily. “Yuki... This really isn't some game. It isn't
some fantasy story. You're life would be in real danger. Is that
what you want?”
Yuki closed her eyes and hugged me tightly. “I want to be strong
like you, Gar-kun.”
“No, you don't,” I told her firmly as I gently pushed her away.
“Why not?” she replied petulantly.
“Because being strong like me means having everything you ever
wanted, everything you ever loved withheld and ripped away from you.
That includes me.”
“You mean...” Yuki gazed back up at me in horror. “You really
did lose everyone in your family?”
“Yes. I had a large family back home. Five brothers, one sister,
nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, great-aunts, great-uncles, and more
cousins and second-cousins than you can shake a stick at. And I will
never ever get to see them again.”
Yuki's eyes were sorrowful, but there was also resolve. “That is
part of why I want to be with you, Gar-kun. I want to help you by
being the most important part of Gar-kun's new family.”
I sighed explosively. I hate this. I do like this girl. She's a
sweet little thing and a hard worker. And evidently she was very
dedicated. Tsunami's sake – Yuki wanted to learn to fight so she
could validate her claim to me with the Jyuraians!
“Look... Yuki, you said you wanted to wait until after high school,
right?”
“Yes!” she cried out brightly.
“Okay then. Then you'll just have to wait until after high
school.”
“Eh?” said Yuki as she frowned, not quite getting what I was
saying. “What do you mean?”
“We can see each other. I can still help you with your homework.
But until you graduate from high school then we can't be anything
more than family friends.”
“I'll do it then!” snapped Yuki. “And just so you know how
serious I am, I promise you I will graduate three years early!”
If I had been drinking anything that would have been a spit-take
right there. This girl would be the death of me. I just knew it.
- Bob Schroeck - 03-27-2014
Oh my. Oh my oh my oh my.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.
- Bluemage - 03-27-2014
...why do I think that, after you leave, Washuu's going to be shipping her off after you?
Oh, right. Because she'd probably be able to get the girl there at the worst possible moment... and it'd be hilarious.
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.
- ordnance11 - 03-28-2014
The Hikaru no Genji moment. The Misakis will shape her into the perfect wife. Whether Garrick wants it or not.
__________________
Into terror!, Into valour!
Charge ahead! No! Never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn!
- Scarlett Pimpernell
- Bob Schroeck - 03-28-2014
Of course, what with Garrick's coming world-jumping, when he gets back to the Tenchiverse he may well be presented with an 18-year-old Yuki...
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.
- Thesilentjackofalltrade - 03-29-2014
Worse then that actually...BA told me what he has planed, but I am sure he will tell you guys soon and I'm not one for spoilers.
_____________
Veni, vidi, vici. [I came, I saw, I conquered
Quote from Julius Caesar
- Black Aeronaut - 03-29-2014
No comments on the spoilered material? I thought there'd be more interest in which direction I was going to try and take this...
Anyhow, HUGE segment here because I don't see any real way of breaking it up without breaking the flow. You guys better enjoy this one, because it's gonna be more than a few days before I get the next one ready.
Summary in two words: BATH TIME!!!
“Is everything okay, Gar-kun?” asked Tenchi as we both scrubbed
ourselves down. Tonight he insisted that we bathe together and have
a bit of brother-time. I know, second bath of the night, but my body
could use the therapy, and Tenchi needed this.
“Not really,” I said.
“But I thought you'd be okay by now,” Tenchi replied in surprise.
“It's the girl, Yuki Mihara. Earlier she and Sasami got to
talking, and now Yuki has got it in her head that I'm the best
candidate to be her husband.”
“What!? But she's too young!”
“I know, Tenchi. But on the other hand, she's honestly shaken up,
so I can see how she's got this crush on me, but still...”
Tenchi just laughed. “Welcome to my world.”
I shot Tenchi a look as I put my toiletries away. “The only one of
your group that is underage is Sasami-chan. And she, at least, is
going to wait until she's the proper age.”
We both went outside and sunk ourselves into the steaming hot water.
“Still... I did at least get her to promise to wait until she
graduated from high school.”
“That's something at least,” said Tenchi.
Suddenly, we heard a shoji open and then shut. “Oh hell no,” I
breathed. I then cut a look at Tenchi. “Tenchi! Stay calm, let
me handle this!”
Tenchi, his eyes wide in panic, only nodded quickly. The last time
this happened my advice wasn't... followed.
“Hooiii!” I called out. “The bath is occupied right now! Not
a good idea to come out, especially if you're a girl.”
“Oh?” came a coy sounding husky voice. “But I'm not a girl.”
Ryoko then appeared around the corner wearing absolutely nothing at
all. “I... am a woman.”
I sighed. Damn, but she had an epic body, but that was to be
expected, given who her mother was.
“Ryoko, is there any way I can convince you to let us be tonight?”
Ryoko put her index finger to her lips as she pursed the, looking off
into the distance as she hummed thoughtfully.
“Nope!” she finally said brightly.
I cursed colorfully under my breath. Knowing several languages
certainly added spice to one's ability to sound foulmouthed. Grandpa
Charles would have been proud.
“Alright then. C'mon Tenchi. It's not as big as this, but you and
I can share my tub without any problems.”
“Oh, c'mon you guys! Please stay!” Ryoko pleaded. “I just
want to chat. You know, how do you Americans put it... 'Shoot the
breeze'?”
“That is the term for it,” I allowed as I began to think. “Okay
how about this then. Tenchi? Do you mind if Ryoko bathes with us as
long as she behaves herself? No touching, no teasing, just small
talk?”
“Ah... but... she's naked!” said Tenchi.
I then look to Ryoko.
“Look, I don't get what the big deal is,” said Ryoko hotly. “I
mean, there's no point to covering myself up here! I refuse to be
ashamed of my body. Besides, this is supposed to be relaxation time,
and if I could have my way I'd be running around without clothes all
the time.”
I blinked. “You're a nudist!?”
“Yeah. Problem?”
I thought about that for a second. “No, not really. Just... damn,
that's a dangerous distraction.”
Ryoko cackled and just went over to start scrubbing down.
I looked to Tenchi. “Are you alright with this?”
“Ah... not... really.”
“Why not?”
“Because it's not proper!”
“And why is it not proper?”
“Ah... because... uhm...”
“Look, Tenchi, Ryoko doesn't have any problem with it at all.
She's a nudist. Weren't you paying attention? That means she
doesn't care who sees her body.”
“You mean... she's not trying to seduce me?”
“No, but I bet she would absolutely love to hear what you think of
her body. It's a point of pride for a woman that the man she likes
has good things to say about it.”
“Oh, I see... let me think about it for a minute.” The minutes
ticked by. Ryoko hummed cheerfully as she scrubbed herself down.
Tenchi fidgeted nervously. I simply laid back and let the warm water
swirl gently around me.
“Okay you guys, I'm coming in,” said Ryoko.
“You know, Tenchi, if it helps you don't have to look. Just wait
until she gets in the water and you can just look at her face.”
“Ah, good idea.”
Ryoko chuckled as she entered the water. “But why wouldn't he look
at me?”
I sighed. “It's a matter of respect, Ryoko. He's been raised to
think it is disrespectful to gaze on a woman's naked body.
Unfortunately, that upbringing failed to include what to do when a
woman freely displays herself. That is, he doesn't understand the
mindset of a nudist.”
“And you do.”
I nodded. “For one thing, you feel that clothing is simply
confining. For another, you feel that your body is like a work of
art, and not something to be ashamed of. Your body is beautiful and
it would make you feel selfish if you kept it only to yourself.”
“My my!” Ryoko said, feigning embarrassment. “Such a
flatterer. Why, if Tenchi didn't already own my heart, you might
have just swept me off my feet there.” I guffawed and Ryoko got a
good chuckle as well before she continued, “Really, Tenchi,
Gar-kun's got the right of it. Honestly, I don't care how much you
do look at my body. Seducing you has nothing to do with it.”
“Ah, they're finally done!” I heard Ayeka's voice as she entered
the bath.
I leveled a glare at Ryoko. “YOU DIDN'T.”
Ryoko laughed a soft, villainous laugh. “Oh, I did.”
She. Took. Down. The. Sign.
“Ayeka! We're still in here!” I called out before she could come
into view.
“With meeee~eeee!” Ryoko called out as well.
“WHAT!?” Ayeka yelled as she came charging around the corner.
“BROTHER! What is the meaning of this!? I thought you were better
than this!”
Ryoko then teleported out of the water and appeared again behind
Ayeka.
“Relax, Princess,” said Ryoko coyly as she placed her hands
reassuringly on Ayeka's shoulders. “It wasn't Garrick. It was
alllll me.”
“What? Back to your old tricks, you pirate?” growled the irate
princess.
Time to intervene! “Believe it or not, sister, seducing Tenchi
wasn't her goal here.”
“Brother?” said Ayeka, fixing me with a surprised glare. “Why
would you say that!?”
“Because, it's true,” I reaffirmed. “She kept her distance
from Tenchi and the worst she did was tease him a bit.”
Ayeka then cut a look at Tenchi. “Is this true, Lord Tenchi?”
Tenchi smiled nervously. “yes,” he managed weakly.
Ayeka closed her eyes and sighed softly. “Very well then.” She
then turned and leveled a venomous look at Ryoko. “That doesn't
explain why you took the warning sign down!”
I gave Ryoko a look as well.
Ryoko shrugged nonchalantly. “I figured you might want to join
us.”
Well, that was an interesting answer.
“Why would I?” Ayeka snapped.
“So you can enjoy Lord Tenchi's company in a relaxed setting. So
you can let your hair down and drop the Princess act. So you can
just sit back and relax.”
Ayeka looked like she was about to boil over. It was time to
intercede with a bit of reasoning – before she blew like a broken
pressure cooker.
“Sister, Ryoko's got a point. You really do need to learn how to
let go. I'm proud of how far you and Ryoko have come, but you're
still just a little too tightly wound up.”
Ayeka growled as she fumed. “oooohhh fine then! But I'm not
taking off this towel and you two are staying on that end of the
bath!”
“That's perfectly fine, sister,” I said soothingly.
Ayeka harrumphed and about-faced to go and scrub down before entering
the bath proper. Ryoko snickered and I gave her a sharp look.
“What!?” exclaimed the cyan-haired beauty as she slipped into the
water once more.
“You know what,” I shot back. “You can't push her so hard so
quickly!”
Ryoko waved it off though. “Feh. She needs the push.”
“Like hell I do!” came Ayeka's voice. And then Ryoko was deluged
by a pan full of cold water suspended between two of Ayeka's logs.
“BLAAARRGH!” cried out Ryoko. She then gave me a look.
“Well, what do you expect!?” I cried out.
She then sighed and said, “Yeah, you're right. I guess I deserved
that.”
I cringed and kept an eye on the washing area. Oh man! Please,
Ayeka, don't follow up that remark! Please don't make a snide
remark!
Fortunately, none was forthcoming. Instead, Ayeka quickly finished
scrubbing, rinsed, then came over wrapped in her bath towel, her nose
turned up from Ryoko.
I sighed in relief as she slid into the water without any further
fuss.
Suddenly, as if a switch had been thrown, Ayeka gave me a bright
smile.
“Oh, Dear Brother! Sasami had mentioned to me that our adorable
little guest has taken a liking to you.”
I sighed once more. “It's true. She confessed her love to me
earlier before we came down for dinner.”
“Is that so?” said Ryoko with interest. “Little girl has got
some real guts going after an older guy like you. Kinda cute,
though. Neh, Ayeka? Weren't you no older when you fell for Yosho?”
Ayeka blushed. “Younger, actually.”
Ryoko smiled. “So what made you fall for him anyhow? I mean, I
know he wasn't hard to look at back then! Hubba-hubba!”
I couldn't help it – that got a laugh out of me. Ryoko just
flashed me a wink.
“Well, there was that,” Ayeka admitted. “I don't suppose that
having our mothers push us together all the time helped matters.”
“Matter of point,” I said suddenly. “Your hair used to be cyan
like Sasami-imouto's.”
Ayeka's blush deepened. “I... don't like to admit it. I wanted
Yosho to like me so much. So I changed my hair color to be more like
his mother's.”
“Don't feel too bad, Sister. I've wanted to see what I look like
with different hair color, too.”
“You have?” asked Tenchi.
I nodded. “Kinda tempted to do a gene-mod for the fun of it. But
the problem is that I can only do that for stuff that's already in my
genome. This is why Sister's hair has a purple tint to it – just
like her Father's. I can probably get away with going for a flaming
red color. I have the Irish in me for it. In fact, if you look at
my whiskers carefully you'll see that a good number of them are red.”
Tenchi leaned closer to get a better look and Ryoko scooted over our
way as well.
“Whoah! No kidding!” said Ryoko. “Hey, Ayeka! Check this
out!”
“Really?” said Ayeka as she moved closer. “Oh my!” She then
spluttered into a fit of giggles.
“Eh? What's so funny?”
“Oh my... I just had the thought... what would the look on
father's face be like if he saw little red heads running through the
Palace on Tenju!”
Ryoko chuckled. “He'd probably wonder if Washu was up to something
at first.”
“Oi, what's so interesting about red hair?” asked a familiar
voice.
“Speak of the devil,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Hey
Washu-GURK!”
Standing there was Washu, wrapped in a towel and ready for a bath...
along with her was Mihoshi and Sasami...
...and Yuki.
“Yay!” cried Sasami. “Bathtime with both Tenchi-nii and
Gar-nii!”
“With... Gar-kun?” stammered Yuki as she turned bright red.
Ayeka and Ryoko then proceeded to nearly drown themselves laughing.
I sighed in defeat. “I suppose this means I have to wash someone's
back?”
Washu smiled knowingly. “Don't worry about it, Gar-kun. We're all
big girls here. We can help each other out.”
“Thank you.”
“Don't thank me yet,” said Washu to me, soto voiced. “I'm
gonna give you hell for letting me be the last to hear about this
one.”
I gave Washu-chan a flat look. “Oi. You know, if you would only
poke your head out your lab more often you might not have to slather
on the sunblock quite as much.”
Washu gave me an evil smile. “Oh, it is on, buddy. It is on.”
“Save it for later when Yuki-chan ain't around. The things we'll
say she's not quite ready for yet.”
Washu harumphed and went to help the others get scrubbed down.
I turned to everyone else.
“Dear Brother, was that what I thought it was?” asked Ayeka
apprehensively.
I shrugged. “Yeah, but don't worry. She'll hold back until
Yuki-chan is away tomorrow. Until then you guys have the opportunity
to reach safe distance.”
“Say, Ryoko, what would you think of us two going someplace far
away with Tenchi tomorrow? Say, the Andromeda Galaxy?”
“Great idea!” said Ryoko with cheer that belied her terror.
“Tenchi-kun?”
“YES PLEASE!” squeaked Tenchi.
The last time Washu and I had gotten into it everyone else had been
sucked into the affair like they were orbiting a black hole. It
probably didn't help that I had rather effectively weaponized
Mihoshi's causality-bending weirdness. Washu was still trying to
wrap her head around how I did that. Really, it was simple. I just
gave Mihoshi a CD-R disk carrying a variant of the Yggdrasil Bug
virus (a nasty little replicating worm with a penchant for hiding in
plain sight – this variant was a nuisance in that it did nothing
except to make the anti-virus software go nuts) and told her that
Washu wanted her to put it in the lab's computer. Everything else
snowballed from Mihoshi's collateral damage.
Forest for the trees, Washu-chan, forest for the trees – I don't
stop to question why a tool works, I just put it to use and
stockpile the empirical evidence.
While we were
waiting, Tenchi and I grabbed our towels and wrapped them around our
waists without leaving the water.
“So, red huh?”
asked Ryoko.
I shrugged. “Might
be fun. I'd certainly turn a lot more heads, and it'd look better
than Seiryuo's mop.”
Ayeka snickered.
“Oh, it would be wonderful if you could show him up! I can't
believe they actually let him become an instructor at the GP
Academy.”
“Eh,” I said,
shrugging. “That'll be someone else's job.”
“Hey, is this one
of those Pondstrider things of yours?” asked Ryoko.
“Nah. It's
nothing important. But I'll let you ladies know when it's going
down. That way you can take pictures.”
“Say, what about
Yuki-chan?” asked Tenchi. “Did you know about her?”
“I knew about
her,” I sighed, my shoulders slumping. “Really, all she had was
a minor bit-roll. Later on she may have been one of Sasami-chan's
friends when she starts going to school, but that was about all the
involvement she was supposed to have in your lives. I just wasn't
expecting something like this. Though I guess I should have – her
being a girl her age.” I sighed at that. Really, I need to learn
to stop meddling.
“Well, I for one
think it's adorable,” stated Ayeka. Before I could say anything,
my adoptive sister went on, “Besides, if what Sasami-chan says
about a tree bonding to her comes true, Father will have no choice
but to let her into the family. It has happened before.”
“Something about
someone hearing a tree's voice calling out to them?” I said,
recalling a bit of trivia from the 101 Facts About Tenchi Muyo
article. (Fact: that tail that we see Ryoko with sometimes? Just an
amusing accessory – she thinks its cute.)
Ayeka nodded.
“They have that ability. When a tree senses that it's match is in
the vicinity, it will call out to that person with its telepathic
voice. I have seen it happen once – a young boy that was the son
of a grounds keeper. He wound up being adopted into the Tatsuki
Clan.”
“Well, that's all
well and good, but how would we go about sneaking her over to
Jyurai?”
Ayeka shook her
head. “I suspect, Dear Brother, that would be a non-issue. If
Tsunami wills it, little Yuki will not have to leave Earth for a tree
to decide on her. And at that point, the issue would be forced upon
us, for the tree that does decide to have her will choose none other,
even if she were to die before the bonding ceremony could take
place.”
I puffed a big
sigh. “Great. So much for a simple life.”
“Don't be so hard
on her, Dear Brother. She is just a child still. She will probably
grow out of it. But, even if she doesn't, then with her level of
dedication she will make a fine wife for you.”
“I get it,
Sister... it's just... that sort of age difference is frowned upon in
the culture I was brought up in. They even have a phrase for it:
cradle robber.”
“I am sorry this
causes you discomfort, Dear Brother, but you must understand that
among us Jyuraians it is perfectly acceptable. In fact, if Yosho
hadn't left to pursue Ryoko... I may have been married to him as
young as fourteen years of age.”
“Alright,” I
sighed. “But in order to maintain appearances here on Earth, I
can't be affectionate with her... at least, no more than a family
friend would be. And not even here in private. I don't mean to say
anyone here doesn't have my well being in mind, but as the old
sayings go, the walls have ears, and loose lips sink ships.”
“Of course not.
I wouldn't dream of forcing the matter with you and her. Just please
try not to break her little heart, Dear Brother.”
Ryoko chuckled.
“See, Ayeka? I told you he was a heart breaker. First Minagi and
now Yuki-chan.”
“Who is Minagi?”
asked Yuki's voice as the quartet from earlier showed up again.
“Come on in and
I'll tell you all about her,” I said. “Really, I think you and
Minagi would get along well. She's such a sweet woman.”
Yuki reacted
positively to what everyone had to say about Minagi. In fact, she
even felt sad for her – having to leave me behind so she could find
herself. She then went on to say that she couldn't wait to meet her
future sister-wife.
Face, meet palm.
It was going on
right in front of me, and even then I had a hard time believing that
this girl was accepting the whole package deal. Maybe she was just
wrapped up in the fairy-tale aspects of it all? In a way, I hope so.
The only troublesome part about that would be the damage control
over how embarrassed she'll be if she ever has a heel-face-turn
moment.
I sighed as I
turned all that over in my head while leaning back at my PC's Work
Station. Broken body or not, I still had some data that Heater
finished processing to return – and another generous paycheck would
be forthcoming afterward.
While I maintained
an open-door policy on my C-Space, I rarely had issues with anyone
sneaking in. Even Ryoko would directly seek me out the moment they
crossed the threshold – something I was glad for because it meant
she respected my wish for her to not use my C-Space to hide and dodge
her chores. (Besides, she probably had much better hiding spots.)
So, I was quite
surprised when I heard the familiar creaking of my loft bed.
“The hell?” I
muttered to myself as I got up to see what that was. As heavy as he
was, my cat, Rene still wasn't big enough to elicit a noise from the
bed. Or maybe Ryo-Ohki was playing with Rene again? Boy, it had
taken him a while to get used to the Cabbit and her unusual
shape-changing ability.
I made my way down
from the second level and into the common space, then over to my bed.
“I should have
known,” I grumped as I cleared the ladder.
Yuki-chan. In
pajamas. Hugging my pillow to her chest. Giving me a sheepish grin.
“Ah... I didn't
want you to feel lonely tonight?” she tried.
“Limits,” I
said succinctly. “They exist. And this is one of them. By the
way, you only got away with the bath tonight because everyone else
was there. Otherwise, that wouldn't have happened.”
“Pleeeeaaaassse?”
she wheedled.
“Sorry. No
amount of cute is gonna budge me on this matter. Now c'mere, ya
spoiled little princess.”
Yuki positively
squealed in delight as she tried to get away from me, but I caught
her by the ankle and dragged her over regardless. Soon enough, I had
a squeeing little girl hefted over my shoulder, and was knocking on
the door to Ayeka and Sasami's room.
“Did you girls
forget something?” I asked glibly as Ayeka opened the door. Both
she and Sasami giggled at the sight of me with Yuki's legs kicking
over my shoulder (“put-me-down-put-me-down...”) as I strode in
and gently dumped the feisty little girl into the futon the
Princesses had made for her earlier.
“Now, you stay
here with my sisters. Okay, Yuki-chan?”
“No!” she
declared petulantly.
“Yes, you spoiled
little princess.”
Yuki stuck her
tongue out at me and pulled down an eyelid with her pinky finger.
“Oh-ho-ho-ho!
That's it, isn't it? I got your number now! You get just about
anything you want back home, don't you? Even if you have to work for
it a bit.”
Yuki harumphed
cutely and turned her nose at me.
“Heh. You are
adorable, even when you're angry.” Unable to resist, I pulled Yuki
into one of my bone-crushing hugs that Sasami was so fond of. Yuki
squeaked under the pressure. “Now stay here and sleep well,
Yuki-chan.”
“Moouuuu,” Yuki
moaned.
I smiled, then went
to Sasami and gave her a good night hug, getting the usually happy
grunt from her, and then Ayeka, too.
“OOOUUUUFFF!”
cried Ayeka, not quite used to this sort of
affectionate-older-brother treatment yet. “Brother!” she cried
out, scandalized, but with a smile that belied her offense as she
smacked my shoulder.
I just smiled as I
left the girls to themselves. “Good night everyone.”
Before I went to
sleep that night, I made an adjustment to my C-Space's security
settings that if Yuki tried to get inside then she would be
teleported straight to her futon in the Princesses' room. I was not
surprised that morning to find that Yuki had triggered the security
protocol no less than three times that night.
That adorable
little imp would be the death of me if I wasn't careful.
- Bob Schroeck - 03-30-2014
And that's just adorable. Well done, well done -- the only nit I have to pick is:
Quote:Really, all she had was a minor bit-roll.You mean "bit role" here. "minor bit role" is a tad redundant, as a bit role is by definition a minor role, but it's in dialogue and people causally make mistakes like that all the time when talking. If it were in narration I'd flag it as needing correction.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.
- robkelk - 03-30-2014
blackaeronaut Wrote:No comments on the spoilered material? I thought there'd be more interest in which direction I was going to try and take this...Thank you for letting us know... and we trust you to tell an interesting story, so what can we say?
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."
- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012
- Bluemage - 03-30-2014
Quote:robkelk wrote:My interest is less in hearing where the story will go, and more in seeing it go that direction. Looking at the spoiler doesn't tell me if I'll like the result or not; knowing you, I suspect I will, but the proof is in the pudding.Quote:blackaeronaut wrote:Thank you for letting us know... and we trust you to tell an interesting story, so what can we say?
No comments on the spoilered material? I thought there'd be more interest in which direction I was going to try and take this...
That's really a long-winded way to say 'I like this, and I wish to read more', isn't it?
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.
- classicdrogn - 04-01-2014
If I've learned one thing from anime, it's that the power of love in a young girl's heart knows no equal nor limitation. Ganbatte, Yuki-chan! Keep fighting, Yuki-chan! True love will always prevail!
(this has been a message from Trollface Kamen)
--
"Anko, what you do in your free time is your own choice. Use it wisely. And if you do not use it wisely, make sure you thoroughly enjoy whatever unwise thing you are doing." - HymnOfRagnorok as Orochimaru at SpaceBattles
woot Med. Eng., verb, 1st & 3rd pers. prsnt. sg. know, knows
- Black Aeronaut - 04-01-2014
Indeed, the thing with Yuki is cute... for now. Soon I'll be throwing
in a nasty little bit of deconstruction. Don't worry - pretty sure
Kajishima-sensei would like it.
Oh, and how's this for a bit of theme music? //www.youtube.com/v/oWhcTesRFq0?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0 [table]
because our world is very cruel
It is advisable to remove withered flowers
You ask me if I'll go with you
You whisper in my ear
You ask me if I take your hand
I have no reason to reject you
You ask me if I'll go with you
You whisper in my ear
You ask me if I take your hand
(You whisper to me)
Yes, I am much stronger than I ever thought
Fly higher!
Run much faster!
Do not forget the truth!
Yes, I am much stronger than I ever thought
I remove withered flowers
Why do you look so sad?
This world is cruel
It is sad but true
This world is strange
It is questionable but true
Is the flower garden real or fake?
I want to be stronger,
because our world is very cruel
It is advisable to remove withered flowers
Yes, I am much stronger than I ever thought
Fly higher!
Run much faster!
Do not forget the truth!
Yes, I am much stronger than I ever thought
I remove withered flowers
Why do you look so sad?
What do you want from me?
I like it or not, I have to pursue the enemy
I am not free from this world
What do you want from me?
I like it or not, I have to pursue the enemy
I am not free from this world
No matter how hard you're also
Fly higher!
Over much faster!
You are very strong
You bind a wreath of flowers
Why do you look so sad?
"You've made a mistake. You have pushed me too far, and now I know I'm far stronger than I ever thought... I was never supposed to be like this. I never even wanted this. For this... I am going to punish you."
PS: Oh, Bob? Would not this song give Doug the willies in a bad way?
- Seraviel - 04-01-2014
Quote:I would use this for a point where Garrick is pushed into giving up on being human in order to protect people that he cares about. Unfortunately, this is much to their own horror because they've always known that Garrick would never want to give up on being human.My own SI story based on a similar pattern touches a similar cord (Not about giving up being human, though). There comes one point where any person is pushed beyond their limits, and reaches for all they can have. For Garrick, this seems about his humanity (in the physical sense), while in my character's case it is about his restraint (his humanity in the mental sense).
"You've made a mistake. You have pushed me too far, and now I know I'm far stronger than I ever thought... I was never supposed to be like this. I never even wanted this. For this... I am going to punish you."
Keep on the good work!
-People may die, but ideas are forever. Je suis Charlie.